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The decision taken by the upper echelons of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to cancel private contracts of services such as cleaning and gate-guarding has led to SAPS members taking on these duties themselves. This means that we have fewer cops on the streets and more in SAPS offices taking responsibility for non-core duties.

No criminal will run at the sight of police and reservists in bulletproof vests, firearm in holster and mop in hand.

The cancellation of a cleaning contract for Democratic Cleaners was announced by former National Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele in March 2011. He promised that government would absorb these cleaners and provide them with higher wages. Instead, hundreds of them have lost their jobs and many police stations have been without cleaners.

In an oversight visit to Limpopo earlier this year, I saw the impact of these cancelled contracts. Not only has it led to job losses for both cleaners and security guards, it has led to SAPS members and reservists having to perform these services themselves. Instead of using their time to do what they are trained to do, they are having to waste it on keeping their stations clean.

In Limpopo, the impact of the cancellation of the contract with Democratic Cleaning Services saw the loss of over 300 jobs. In Kwazulu-Natal, around 400 cleaners were left without jobs last year after the contract was not renewed and many cleaners were not integrated into SAPS as promised.

Without basic services and resources, how can the SAPS be expected to perform their duties effectively?

Police and reservists go through months of training and put their lives on the line daily for the protection of their communities. Now government expects them to clean the toilets, empty the rubbish bins, wash windows and sweep the station over and above their core duties.

I will be submitting parliamentary questions to Minister Nathi Mthethwa to ascertain the following:

• How many cleaners from Democratic Cleaning Services were hired by government, as promised by General Cele;
• how many stations are without regular and sufficient cleaning services; and
• how many SAPS officers and reservists are currently being roped in to assist with cleaning services?

Despite COSATU’S disdain for contract work, neither police nor reservists should be expected to clean the police stations or guard the gates. This is taking them off the streets where Visible Policing should be a priority and away from their core duty of protecting South African citizens.